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Hayden’s mouth goes dry as he picks up his phone from Sloane’s hand and goes to a quiet corner. He planned every single thing about Natasha’s birthday dinner: the decoration, the menu, her birthday cake, the right spot, his speech… But when Dipper swallowed the slice of cake along the engagement ring, he was certain he had missed his chance. Until now.
“Babe? Are you there?” Natasha’s voice calls him back to reality.
“Yeah, I am…”
“Were you really going to propose tonight?”
“I was.”
“In front of everyone?”
“No.”
As she sighs in relief, he nods in understanding. Natasha may be an extrovert, but he knows she wouldn’t be comfortable with a proposal made in front of everyone. The last thing he wanted was to make her feel pressured to say yes.
“So when were you planning on doing it?”
“As soon as you returned to our table outside.”
“The balcony!” She blurts. “That’s why you suggested we had cake there!”
He smiles softly. “Yeah… When you left to freshen up, I got distracted while talking to Mrs Park about the ring. Before we knew it, Dipper had finished your slice of cake and started mine.”
“Aw…” She chuckles. “So Sloane knew. My mom knows. Jalila and dad obviously know it too. Mom would never keep it to herself.”
“Jalila said that too.”
Both of them chuckle in response.
“Anyone else?”
“Nadia and Steve.”
“Wow… You really would’ve proposed by now if Dipper didn’t eat the cake.”
“I would…”
He shoves his free hand into his pocket. He did miss his shot. Some other night, maybe… If he didn’t feel like crawling into a hole somewhere and never leaving there.
“So, are you staying there all night?”
“I think so.”
“Why? Dipper is resting. And so should you.”
His hand rubs the back of his neck.
“I know you feel like you have to stay with Dipper, but what else are you going to do there except tiring yourself out? She’s okay. And she will need you well-rested tomorrow.”
“But what if something happens?”
“They’ll call us and we’ll be there.”
“Nat…”
“Come home, babe. We’ll pick her up in the morning.”
Though his hesitation to go back home has nothing to do with Dipper, Natasha has a point. It wouldn’t make sense for him or Sloane to stay at the vet all night.
“Alright… I’ll call Sloane and get us a Lyft.”
“Okay. See you soon?”
“Sure… See you soon.”
Patting himself to find the keys, Hayden walks toward his apartment and fights back a yawn. His eyes scan the front door. All lights are off. Most likely, Natasha already went to bed.
Hayden let out a sigh. It was a tiring night and she did stay at home cleaning up and rearranging everything by herself after he rushed to the veterinary hospital. Maybe it’s for the best. He wouldn’t know how to face her now that she knows his intentions, but didn’t give him any clue if she wanted the same.
Once he finally gets the keys and opens the door, his eyes widen. Candles light up a path of white and pink petals towards the balcony. He follows the path and stops in his tracks. Sitting on the same spot he meticulously arranged hours earlier to make the proposal, Natasha beams as one of his favorite songs plays in the background.
“Just so you know, I’m wearing my nicest lingerie and I look freaking hot under this blanket. But this chilly wind isn’t helping.”
Hayden laughs. “What are you still doing out here, babe? I thought you were asleep.”
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“Why not?”
“I heard you have an important question to ask me tonight.”
His heart races in his chest and his mouth goes dry again. He was so caught up in the idea of surprising her with a proposal that he failed to see he never missed his chance.
“I don’t know if you’re coming up with another plan to surprise me, but I don’t want to wait until then.”
As their eyes meet, Hayden breaks into a smile. Has he ever felt this nervous and happy before?
“Why are you still standing there, silly? Come here!” She whines, feigning impatience.
Chuckling, he saunters over and kneels before her.
“Oh! You are doing it now.”
“You said you couldn’t wait…” He offers his hand for her to take and grins as she places it on his.
Her hand feels cool, but a bit sweaty to the touch. She is as nervous as he is. But the joy in her eyes gives him the strength to keep going.
“I’ve rehearsed this so many times in the mirror, in my head… But as I kneel here before you, I don’t know how to begin. You leave me breathless, Nat. There’s always something about you that astounds me, something that makes me smile…”
Her grin widens as her eyes begin to well up.
“I know I was created to your perfect match. And as I began to change, you asked me if I’d still love you. Here’s your answer: I do. I don’t think anyone who built me knew that I’d fall in love with you over and over again. But after all these years, I still love you. And I have no doubts I wouldn’t be who I am today if I wasn’t yours.”
Hayden reaches for the Tiffany cut diamond ring in his coat pocket and shows it to her.
“Natasha Lamya Park, will you marry me?”
Tears stream down her face as she beams. “Yes.”
With that, Hayden places the ring on her finger and they stood up together. He brushes her tears away with his thumb and presses his lips to hers. Though kissing her became something like a daily activity his days couldn’t begin or end without, this kiss feels different. There’s more than passion to it. With it, comes hope and a certainty that she’ll be with him for good.
As they pull apart, he holds his fiancee close, as she wraps the blanket around them.
“You weren’t joking about looking hot under the blanket. That’s a very sheer nightgown, babe,” he teases as his eyes glance down at her breasts nearly popping out of the purple lace and silk gown.
“I can’t say I feel hot though. My butt is freezing!”
The couple doubled over.
“How about we go back inside and begin our celebration in the bedroom?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Still holding on to each other, Hayden and Natasha walk back inside and head toward the master bedroom.